the world’s thinnest antishake-enabled camera, the ‘sony cybershot tx55‘ packs new imaging technology
that permits the capturing of two times the level of optical zoom, as well as 3D images and 1080i full HD video.
the device’s exmor 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor is claimed to significantly reduce image noise even in low light levels.

the camera features ‘by pixel super resolution’ technology, which allegedly doubles the camera’s virtual zoom
to 10x at maximum resolution. this technology is also the foundation for the ability of the ‘tx55’ to capture
12-megapixel still photos without interrupting the shooting of full HD video, in contrast to the 3-megapixel
size ordinarily possible for still images taken during video filming with other recent cameras in the cybershot line.

the video resolution of the device has also increased, to 1080i full HD (AVCHD) video at 60fps.

shanghai-based practice KUU (kok-meng tan, satoko saeki) has sent us images of their most
recent project ‘minus k house’, a private dwelling adjacent to the client’s slipper factory in nanhui, china.
composed of two components – a weekend house and a residence for the worker – the design is
a collection of 3m by 3m volumes that connect to one another to result in a flowing and porous
circulation within.

We all know alkaline batteries are really bad for the environment if you don’t dispose of them properly. The right thing to do is send them to special recycling centers but hundreds of tons end up in landfills where their toxic innards seep into the earth. Perhaps a good solution is the Energy Seed, an LED lamp post powered by trashed alkaline batteries.

The idea is to encourage people to throw their batteries away into the Energy Seed. There’s a slot for nearly every size battery. The unit combines any left over juice from all the batteries to power a super efficient LED ring.

Of course once the bins are full, we’re left with the same original problem. Somebody has to collect all those spent batteries and recycle them.

‘towards a poetic morphology’, a temporary installation by the europe-based artist network the cloud collective,
fills a small room with a landscape of letters, together forming robert walser’s poem ‘oppressive light’.

the piece was installed at la fabrique, a former textile printing factory, for the 22nd international poster and graphic design festival
of chaumont in france. in the work, a small opening pathway invites visitors to explore the letters and forms, in a windowed room
whose ambiance constantly changes with the sunlight and weather outdoors:

‘this arrangement in space– strongly affected by sunlight, time and weather– allows the text to slowly detach itself
from its intrinsic meaning and to let form, typography and composition take over. the snowy landscape becomes malleable,
thus creating a multitude of meanings for the observer.‘

nintendo‘s ‘wii u’ console was just announced at E3 2011, alongside a multi-input game controller for the device
that doubles as its own screen for both gaming and navigation of websites or other media.

the new tablet-sized controller features a 6.2-inch touch screen, framed by traditional button controls (A/B/X/Y buttons,
L/R buttons, ZL/ZR buttons, and two analog circle pads, alongside power, home, start, and select). a built-in gyroscope
and accelerometer permit the gesture-based interaction that defines the game system, while a rumble feature and stereo
speakers provide feedback. the controller also features a camera and microphone.

at 1.8 inches thick, 6.8 inches wide, and 10.5 inches long, the ‘wii u’ console is backwards compatible with all wii accessories
and games, loading 12-centimeter high-density and wii optical discs. up to four wii remote controllers can interface with the device,
which supports HDMI audio and video output, up through 1080p.

together the new products offer new ways of interacting with wii games. the system is designed to switch seamlessly
between viewing on a an external screen and on the controller itself, and in fact a monitor is no longer necessary
for wii devices to interact with one another. in addition, in a golf game, for example, the ‘wii u’ controller can be played
on the floor to simulate the virtual golf ball and the ‘roughness’ of the grass or sand surface, while a wiimote is used as a club.

apanese designer kaori aoi creates home products under the moniker innocent blue. driven by modernist optimism,
her designs feature novel ways of integrating more light into the home. an oversized ring-turned-lamp,
‘ring light’, for instance, subverts expectations of scale as well as a diamond’s natural light source.

andrea claire studio is a new venture of andrea claire lighting, which has been producing custom lamps since 2004.
based in williamsburg, brooklyn, andrea claire studio started in 2010 to specifically develop and launch a new line of bespoke,
green lighting. ‘constantin’ is the first of several designs in development. merging the latest three-dimensional rendering technologies
with a commitment to hand-crafting techniques, the constantin line features a proprietary method of forming bamboo over metal frames
and armatures finished in brushed brass, satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze, or chrome. the studio will work closely with its clients to
produce chandeliers that meet specific size and finish requirements while drawing on the unique vocabulary of shapes, materials,
and the hanging systems it has developed.

israeli designer idan friedman of reddish studio has created a series of portraits embossed into disposable aluminium food trays.
the collection depicts people who are part of friedman’s everyday life, ranging from close friends to passers-by.
the combination of image and material reference historic medallions, and perhaps allude to our present day
lack of appreciation for traditional art forms.
you may see more profiles on friedman’s flickr

‘furo’ by fernando brizio for materia*
agglomerated cork, colored pencils
∅ 255 x H286mm
image courtesy of materia*
in a collaboration that started more than a year ago, portuguese cork manufacturing company amorim,
approached experimentadesign, whose flagship venture is the EXD biennale in lisbon, to develop a project by selecting
designers to bridge the gap between the raw natural material and user, by creating objects for everyday use.
experimentadesign chose ten portuguese and international designers and studios based on their creative processes,
paying close attention to their functionality and relevance, with an understanding of user dynamics.

entitled materia*, the result is a collection of objects that investigate the potential of cork, emphasizing its versatility,
first presented to the public on the occasion of milan design week 2011.

portuguese designer fernando brizio has developed ‘furo’ and ‘senta’ for the collection, both of which explore the idea
of a main cork centrepiece whose purpose and function is enhanced through the use of ‘legs’.